“Where do you think this is going?” Asher’s gaze was intense. “I mean, we did drink each other’s blood and all. That should stand for something.”
Niko shifted and sat up, leaning his back against the headboard and pillows. “I like you,” he said matter-of-factly. “Very much.”
“I like you, too.”
“And I won’t lie, it’s been quite some time since I’ve been in a relationship, but I wasn’t ready for one.”
“Are you now?”
“I wouldn’t be here, doing this with you if I wasn’t,” Niko answered honestly. “You don’t strike me as a quick fuck and forget ’em kind of guy.”
Asher raised a well-manicured brow. “That’s good to know.”
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, I want to take this as far as we can. It could be a month, two months, or a century since we’re both immortal and have time on our side.”
Asher delivered a quick peck to Niko’s cheek. “Opposites attract.”
Niko chuckled. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we are opposites in some things.”
“Not where it’s important. You have a good heart and good soul. That’s what’s most important to me. You can have your beefcake boys with gorgeous faces, but a good guy with integrity will win me over every time.”
Niko swatted playfully at Asher’s face, making contact with his jaw. “So I’m fat and ugly? Thanks.”
“No,” Asher said. “You’re perfect in every way possible.”
“Unless you’re hiding something from me, I feel the same about you.”
“I’m too old to play games. I left all that drama behind in the eighteenth century.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Asher rushed into Everlasting only to be met with inquisitive stares from both Jerrod and Tory, although Tory’s was a little friendlier. He stripped off his jacket, hanging it on the coat rack by the door, and went directly to the desk to see his list of clients for the night. Not that bad, Asher thought, counting five clients starting in a half hour. He looked up at the clock hanging on the wall beside him. And he wasn’t that late, either. Asher breathed a sigh of relief. Jerrod might still be peeved at him, but not as much as if he’d had a client waiting in his chair.
Finishing a blow-dry on one of his most loyal clients, Jerrod directed the auburn-haired vampire with fiery red highlights to the changing room, so she could remove her smock and redress, meeting him at reception with the bill. He walked up to Asher and stood beside him. “Did you have a talk with Niko about Alderman?”
“Yes, I told him everything I knew, about what I overheard, and what happened here last night.”
“What did he say?”
“He was concerned, and that he wanted me to stay out of it.”
“Sounds like wise advice. Are you?” Asher almost couldn’t bear Jerrod’s scrutiny.
“Niko and Mario spoke with Alderman.”
Jerrod scoffed. “Nothing will ever get through to Alderman. I’ve known egotistical maniacs like that in my long life, and they never listen to reason because they are unreasonable. He’s insane.”
“I’m aware of that,” Asher said. “I’ve been around the block, too.”
“Then you know that we have to do something about Alderman. We’re on his radar, and I don’t like that. He’s personally threatened us, and this business. Everlasting is our livelihood, our sanctuary. And so is Sangre. I like it here and have no intention of moving anytime soon.”
“I’m listening. What do you propose?” In the past, Jerrod had many good ideas, and Asher was hoping that he had at least one left in him to remedy Alderman.
“I might be incredibly foolish or downright stupid, but tonight I say we close early and head to Siesta Beach. We can hide in the sand dunes. Sit and wait.”
“For Alderman and the others?”
Jerrod nodded, his jaw pulsed. “I say you invite your new friends. We need to face this together and fight together, if need be. We need to expose Alderman at any cost for what he is. Our wonderfully peaceful and problem free existence in this quaint city has come to an end, and I fully intend to restore it to just that, sooner rather than later.”
“We arrived together. I can pop over there and tell him about our plan.”
“You really do like this Niko character don’t you.”
“And he likes me.”
“For whatever it’s worth, I’m happy for you.”
Asher made a derisive noise in the back of his throat.
“No, really,” Jerrod assured him. “You deserve to be with someone who’ll make you happy.” He paused. “Do you believe he’s the one to do that?”
“I do,” Asher said. “I hope to do the same for him.”
“Good, then run across the street and clue him in. If any of his friends want to join in, let Niko know, the more the merrier. Something tells me we might need the help.”
* * * *
Niko looked up to see Asher walking in the front door of the shop. All the guys turned and looked too, and one client went so far as to wolf whistle . . . but he was a wolf shifter, so that was to be expected. Niko eyed the dirty-minded creature with a thick full coat in need of grooming, sending him a “he’s mine” growl.
“Hey,” Asher approached, sounding breathless. “We’re going to the beach tonight, and Jerrod thought it was a good idea to invite you and the rest of the crew.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” the words tumbled out of Niko. “I think this is a bad idea, a very bad idea.”
“I’ll take that into consideration but it’s already been discussed, and we’re going.”
“And that’s it? I can’t do or say anything to change your mind?”
Asher shook his head. “Hairdressers are stubborn.” He shrugged. “So, are you joining us or are you going to allow a bunch of beauticians to show you up, tough guy?”
“We’d lose our street cred if we allowed that to happen.” Niko raised his gaze to Kairon who was finishing a high and tight fade. “Are you listening to this?”
His nod was almost undetectable. “Tell that fancy man across the way that we’re in. If you have our backs, then we have yours.”
Asher smiled tightly. “I might not use that exact phrase, but I’ll tell Jerrod that you’ll meet us there.” He turned to Niko and whispered, “Just so I have no surprises later, that is what he said, right?”
“Yes, white boy.”
Asher’s cheeks reddened. He told them of their plan to close Everlasting early and lay in wait for Alderman and any others who would make an appearance. They decided to meet south of where the murders had taken place, the highest dunes a good focal point to the rest of the beach.
Niko kissed Asher full on the mouth. “You tell your buddies thanks.”
“I will.” Asher turned to leave but stopped short, turning back. “You’ll tell Mario?”
“He’ll be there,” Niko said. “I assure you. Even if I have to drag him there by his ear.”
* * * *
Since he chose to shift into a crab, Asher thought this was a bad time to admit that he hated sand, but it seemed like the natural thing to become. It was either that or a seagull, and he wasn’t particularly fond of those either, the birds too messy for Asher’s taste. Obviously, he was the odd man out since Jerrod and Tory squawked and scratched beside him, hamming it up for a dubious flock that refused to come closer to the odd trio.
“Shhhh.” Asher hushed Tory and Jerrod. “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping or something? Look at those other birds. They’re quiet and hunkered down.”
“I think they’re frightened,” Jerrod said crooking his neck left and right, scanning the beach for any signs of life with two arms and two legs. “They’ve probably never seen one of their kind wearing pink crystals on the tips of their wings before. It’s mildly distracting.”
“Don’t be a hater, Jerrod,” Tory responded turning his beak up. “And you know I’m never satisfied to blend in with the crowd.”
Asher snapped his claws in the air. “I thought that was the point to all of this!”
“Fine,” Tory shot back, flapping the crystals free from his wings and sending the stones falling into the sand. “Is that better?”
“Much,” Jerrod and Asher chimed in unison.
The flock of seagulls began to make a low squawking sound that bubbled in the backs of their throats. The sound was different than before, and it could only mean one thing, danger. The birds dug their bodies deeper into the sand.
Jerrod was the first to talk. “I think it’s show time.”
“Finally,” Tory whispered. “I was feeling underdressed.”
They watched in silence as a group of slender vampires ran and jumped up the beach, kicking at the sand and playing in the surf. The smell coming off their pallid flesh covered in snaking tattoos was of rotting fish and decomposing seaweed.
Asher shifted back into his true form but remained low.
“Why did you do that?” Tory asked. “I was beginning to think you made quite a handsome crab. Very sexy legs.”
“Don’t get fresh with me, bird,” Asher said as the band of vampires swirled and hooted in a circle just a few feet in front of them. “Alderman’s not with them.”
“I sense,” Jerrod began, “that he won’t be long.”
Jerrod was right. From the surf, the full moon high above, Alderman swooshed in like a thick fog that rolled in from the sea. Adding to the stench, his diaphanous shape blanketed the immediate area before fully materializing into human form. His eyes burned in the semi-darkness like two red lasers. In a generous sweep, he extended his arms to the side. “My babies,” he cooed. “My beloveds. Although we have certain people asking questions, I don’t want you to fear. What happens here stays here.”
“Really?” Jerrod scoffed. “Does he think he’s in Vegas?”
Tory chuckled, shifting. “Now look what you made me do.”
Joining his friends, Jerrod turned too. “I wonder where the guys from Killer Kuts are? Those bunch of pansies.”
Niko, Mario, Kairon, and a few other familiar faces Asher recognized coming in and out of the barbershop materialized from a warm musky scented gust of wind. Asher inhaled the manly scent, causing him to have a flashback of his lover’s hulking body riding him toward ecstasy. If that was Asher’s last thought, he would exit this Earth a very happy vampire indeed.
“Hey, baby,” Niko said, sliding on his stomach toward Asher. “Sorry we’re late. We stopped by Duets for a shot and headed this way.”
Asher smelled the alcohol and synthetic blood on Niko’s breath. “Why didn’t we think of that?”
“’Cause your crew’s not that cool.”
“We like to keep a level head,” Jerrod interjected.
Kairon and Mario followed up, aligning with the others. Mario peered over the dune. “Those are some of the same guys from the other night. Bunch of dopes. Laughing and scratching and jumping and shit. So annoying. They’re probably high on some crazy ass cocktail of drugs and blood.”
“They are freaking scary,” Asher added. “Where are they from? How long have they been dead?”
Niko answered, “They’re freaky mutants. You can tell by that crazed look in their eyes. Their bodies and spirits are warped by all the stuff they take. I bet they turned out of need more than anything else just so they could keep drugging for eternity, the greedy bastards. Probably made disturbed mortals too.”
“Do we have a plan?” Mario asked.
“We do,” Jerrod shared. “Keep quiet until we have some incriminating evidence and then confront Alderman.” He cocked his head to the side. “We might have to tear him to shreds, or get torn to shreds. I hope it’s not the latter.”
“Ditto,” Asher chimed in. “I don’t look good in distressed clothing. I’m more of a classic dresser.”
They watched as the morally bankrupt vampires continue to laugh at Alderman’s musings. Asher couldn’t hear everything but understood enough to know that something was about to go down.
From off in the distance, Asher heard voices coming up the beach toward them. They had the playful lilt of excited humans who had no idea they were heading straight to their deaths. A part of Asher thought they deserved what they got, teasing the vampires with the powerful nectar running through their veins. But deep down, humans were naïve creatures and underestimated what their blood did to vampires, although it was well documented in newspaper headlines and works of popular fiction.
Asher could distinguish that the voices belonged to two male youths and one female coming into view. They waved toward the group on the beach as if they were long-time friends meeting up for a day of frolicking in the surf. “Yep,” Asher whispered. “Naïve.”
“They really have no clue,” Kairon said. “This reminds me of another time we saved some humans.”
Asher and Niko eyed Kairon. “What are you talking about?” Niko said. “This is a new experience for me.”
Jerrod cleared his throat. “He’s referring to me.”
“What?” If he wasn’t already lying down, Asher would’ve fallen to the ground. “You two knew each other before coming to Sangre?”
Kairon nodded. A sly smile slid over his lips. “We go way back, don’t we, baby?”
Asher’s jaw came unhinged, as he looked at Jerrod’s scowl. He didn’t say a word, only made a sound that didn’t sound so friendly.
Kairon continued with their shared history. “We met in Istanbul. We were young and freshly turned then. Cocky as hell. Had some wild nights in that city.”
“How modern of you to refer to Constantinople as Istanbul,” Jerrod said. “When we met it was still Constantinople.”
“Unlike your hairstyle,” Kairon began, “I’m a modern guy.”
Asher scooted closer to Jerrod. “Why didn’t you mention this before? Is that why you were so adamant about me not seeing Niko? You were afraid this would come to light?”
“No,” Jerrod’s voice was firm. “I suspected that Niko was a scumbag because he chose to hang with scumbags. Nothing more.”
“I remember you calling me some names, babe, but scumbag wasn’t one of them.” Kairon inclined his head and ran his tongue over his upper lip. “Would you like me to refresh that failing memory of yours on some of those names? Let’s start with—”
“Save your smut for some other time, Kairon,” Jerrod hissed. “If you haven’t noticed, we have more serious things to attend to at the moment.”
They redirected their gaze toward Alderman, who was stroking the shoulder of the blond male youth with a generous bulge in his skinny faded black jeans. The human appeared to be in a daze, his earlier exuberance now gone, falling under the vampire’s spell. Asher knew what the next step was and if they didn’t intervene quickly, the youth would pay with his life. As if reading his thoughts, Jerrod flew from the dunes first, followed by the others. Alderman stumbled backward as his followers circled around them, screeching with discontent.
“Have you come to join in the fun or ruin it?” Alderman’s fangs protruded from his stretched lips, distorted and grotesque. “Mario, come have a taste, since you enjoyed it so much the other evening. These humans are very willing. They want to end their lives this way, the sick bastards.” Alderman snarled and attempted to bite the still dazed boy.
“No!” Mario shouted, lunging for them. “They have no idea what’s going on. Leave him.” Grabbing the arm of the youth, Mario yanked, pulling him behind the safety of Kairon and Jerrod, two walls of muscle.
Alderman’s men hissed and spat, fangs bared and crouched in fighting position.
“Mind your own business,” the skinniest of the group said, noticeable scabby track marks running along his inner forearms. “Either join in or get the fuck outta here. I need a fix fast.”
Asher stepped forward. “Well, you’re going to have to get it another way.” His reflexes heightened, Asher wrapped his arm around the waist of the female and spun, the girl losing her footing and stu
mbling onto the sand, safe for now.
Alderman raised his arms to his side, two flaming orbs suspended above his open hands. “If you continue on this path, you’d better be prepared for a fight to the death. Consider this your first and final warning.”
Niko growled. “Are you the vampire who can kill another? Is that how you take care of the brotherhood?”
Alderman chuckled, tossing back his head. “I don’t care about your brotherhood.” He spat the words out like they tasted foul. “You’re pathetic, all of you. Living under human rules and regulations. We are the undead. We feed off the living. Understand!” His voice echoed above the surf.
“We don’t need you to clarify who and what we are,” Jerrod said. “We survived without you and will after you are gone.”
“I do not intend on going anywhere. Sangre is mine. Always has been and always will be.” Alderman juggled the flaming orbs, dancing on the flat, wet sand. “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, who do I set alight first?” he sang.
Jerrod pursed his lips and blew, extinguishing one of the orbs.
Alderman tripped on his two feet, caught off guard by the force of the wind. Sand kicked up and landed in his eyes. He screeched, the sound deafening.
Asher recoiled and watched intently for his next move.
Placing a reaffirming hand on his shoulder, Niko said, “Don’t worry, baby. We got this.”
Asher wished he shared Niko’s self-confidence, especially when Alderman turned into a flock of ravens. Their beaks and talons were long, hooked, and sharp. They moved like one large beast, a tornado of black, glossy feathers.
“Get down!” Jerrod shouted, thrashing at the attacking birds.
They dove, burying themselves in the sand, taking shelter as best they could in the open area that offered little protection. Asher felt his shirt tearing and his pant legs being tugged forcefully. Niko’s hand found Asher’s and squeezed. He waited until instinct signaled that he had to move, and fast. Holding hands, Niko and Asher flew out of the sand grabbing birds out of the air and snapping their necks like they were made of brittle wood. Cool blood washed across Asher’s face and burned in his wounds. He kept grabbing, snapping, and twisting, stopping not an option. If he did that, he knew it would be the end. Asher squinted, assessing any damage to his friends. They appeared to be fighting strong, but Asher didn’t know if they were winning.
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